Martinsville Man Charged With Woman's Murder, Father's Stabbing

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BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A Martinsville man has been charged with first degree homicide in the stabbing death of a woman inside a Washington Valley Road home Monday evening, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson.

Michael Litwornia, 27, was also charged with second degree aggravated assault in connection with the stabbing of his father, also inside the home.

According to Robertson, Bridgewater police responded to a 911 call at about 8:20 p.m. regarding a stabbing victim outside of the home. When they arrived, he said, they found a 61-year-old male homeowner suffering from severe stab wounds and lacerations.

The victim, Robertson said, told officers that his son, Litwornia, had attacked him.

Additional officers responded to the scene, Robertson said, and found a 61-year-old female also suffering from stab wounds and lacerations. Officers began lifesaving measures on the woman, but she was declared dead upon the arrival of medics.

According to Robertson, officers attempted to make contact with Litwornia, who had barricaded himself inside the house. Officers also set up a perimeter of the residence, and evacuated and sheltered in place local residents.

The Somerset County SWAT and Hostage/Crisis Negotiators responded to the scene, and detectives from the Bridgewater Township Police Department, Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit and the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner's Office responded to the scene.

Robertson said an attempt was made to establish communications with Litwornia, but he refused to communicate. A mechanical robot was sent into the residence, Robertson said, and found the defendant lying on a couch inside the house.

When SWAT members entered the house, Robertson said, Litwornia attempted to grab a sharp force instrument, but was subdued and taken into custody by SWAT personnel.

Litwornia was taken to an area hospital for emergency treatment because of self-inflicted wounds to his body.

Robertson said the adult male victim was taken to an area trauma center to undergo emergency surgery, and is listed in critical condition.

The investigation is ongoing, Robertson said, and detectives are working to establish a motive for the assaults. Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased female pending notifications of next of kin, and an autopsy is scheduled at the medical examiner's office.

Litwornia is currently at an area hospital under police guard, and, once he is released, he will be lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908-722-4111 or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers' Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). People can also go to www.888577tips.org or www.scpot.net with tips.

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